Coach Pitlick:
And I'm the introduction. I'm basically taking it from what you have in your book
Eric Westrum:
Okay,
Coach Pitlick:
about about him, So I'm just going to read Last part. Okay, Sorry, you got to turn off me heaters. All right. So many steps. That was the easiest introduction I've ever had As I stole the paragraphs from Mrwestrum's. website describing his recent book launch called Becoming Elite. I ran into this individual a handfull of times over the last ten to fifteen years, but never had the opportunity to really get to know him. so I'm super excited to hear about the road he's travelled. So ladies and gentlemen, please help me and welcoming Eric Westrum to the show Mrwestrm. welcome to the Hockey Journey Podcast.
Eric Westrum:
Pitt, I'm excited to sit down like you said. We've rein into each other. I think Yeah, exactly over the last ten, fifteen, twenty. Probably, Eve, been back when you were playing that they go for S Pri in the lock room with my dad. All the guys around the university soda, so I'm excited to dig into this and like we talked to Bale before. I think I think we could talk for hours. but well, we'll get some of those important bite size chunks out and it's awesome to see what you're doing. I've listened to couple of your podcasts and it's great to see you give Back to the hack community, Just the sports world in general.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah, it's It's been a fun endeavor for me, not only just learning something new but just being able to re connect with players coaches that I've had in the past that were really big influences in a positive way for me, and then also just you know, having people I don't know and then hearing their story and everyone's journey is different, but it's also the same. There's there's no. There's no journey that is a smooth road. There's always hiccups that come, And that's the good stuff. That's that's what makes us us, and that's what makes successful people when you have some of that adversity. So before we get into what you're doing today, R book writer so awesome I'd like to rewind the tape Nd. let's take a moment look in the rear view mirror and go back to the beginning where you grow up. What was your childhood? Like your parents, You talked about Dad, He was pretty influential siblings, friends, your deduction to hack and other sports. Basically, it's a lot. basically, just tell us what it was like growing up Eric Westram,
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, and I think you know, you kind of hit my beginning. My book on N. Q. There's the journey right, So I talk about the journey. I don't really dig deep into it. you know, with some of the questions you're asking, so it's great to be able to talk about it today. in the podcast. I think if you look back, I start out even talk about an ordinary kid grown up in a suburban town in Minnesota. So for me, grew up in Apple valley, Minnesota. I think my dad, as he was playing professional hockey in the seventies, he looked at Apple Valley as a place to be able to grow Family. So not a ton of holligen. You know not what it is today with the multiple high schools and athletic facilities and everything that has been Ou know, prompted from him and other people moving into that area. So for me it was, it was a huge playground, a lot of space, a lot of outdoor ice drinks, a lot of influences. so I was blessed to have my dad along with his friends and family that had hickifluence, So for me it was I looked back, and it's you don't know why you do certain things, But when you grew up in the stay a hack, Know why you put a pair of skates on and you have a hockey stick. I have a back air drink for my kids. One of my four only play hockey, but we all go out there. It's a place to kind of just let go and un wine. so I think for me it was. It was more so just something to do. It was second nature and I fell in love with it at a very young age. It was the time outside. you know, Like you asked about my friends. Those are the kids that I spent the most Time with were the ones who re on the ice in. Those are the kids that will may be talk about later in the journey is fast forward to nineteen. Ninety Six grew up in nineteen, seventy nine, win a state championship and one of the longest games in history. That's where it started was the foundation from going out in the backyard, Rank with my brother, all of our friends. You know, Even in the summer we had street hack leagues. We were, we lived on Ferris
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
Avenue,
Coach Pitlick:
uh,
Eric Westrum:
and then we had one thirty seven street. So we were the first layers, One thirty seven, three bombers, and we'd play
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
football, baseball, hockey, and to your point, some of your podcasts know you and Barry, who actually was one of my polar skate coaches back when he first started, him and his wife. So that was where it all began. Was that competitive spirit to be able to just battle right and then at the end of the day. even though you two handed a guy in the back, you'd walk up the hill back home. You have a conversation, You get on the boss tomorrow and Do it all over again. So that was for me the hack portion, my family, my dad playing professional hockey, helping coach, similar to myself or you coaching your kids. My brother was two years older. He. I always say he was dumb enough to get into the net and be a goal, so I didn't
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
have to use the shooter tutor, right, or a
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
sniper's edge tarp.
Coach Pitlick:
yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I actually had him in the net live shots. My sister was three years younger than me. She was kind of, you know, I'd kick more or less that followed me around that I got to influence her right. Well, it was
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
good or bad sometimes, but I had the influence of her to teach her different sports work ethic, so I was kind of. I mean it was. It was a really good situation. As I look back, My mom was a teacher, so it was you don't get good grades. You don't play sports right,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
My dad then would jump in after the school was done. Now we can play sports. So it was.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
it was a foundation for me. I was very fortunate to have laid both you know, in the family the faith, the school and the sports portion, and have you know the influence of friends, family, but also to be able to influence my siblings and those friends around me.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah. it's it is. I believe a definite competitive advantage when we have the mentorship of. you know a parent, like having your dad played professional, hack us in. That is normal. and you just think that that's what we're supposed to do all the time, and I think that that's was a competitive advantage for my kids, you know, and in the path that I took in coaching and learning and stuff like that. So All great stuff and I just can't wait to continue on So when did you have the inclination that you wanted to maybe play past high school?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I think for me. I mean, if I go back to and I talked about this in my book To it was my eighth great year. I made the bantam be team right, So it wasn't like worry when we grew up, Wasn't triple a double. All this different Ou know categories. It was played a bar C. right, So
Coach Pitlick:
Yep,
Eric Westrum:
for me, I made the bantam be team as an Ighgrigger and I was sad and I was pissed.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
My mom took the sad side and said, Don't worry Right, it was to console my dad's. like. Well, you know, maybe you. maybe you're bubble player, Maybe Deserved, Did you? did you? not? But here's the cards that were dealt to you and from then forward I'm like I'm going a score o hundred, two hundred goals and points, and banda bes. I'm going to make it to high school by ninth grade, Which I played bana instead of high school. Sophomore year. Made the team Was wasn't on the top line, but just worked my tail off Right And so I think somewhere in that area then I started playing for the team Us. you know, the sixteen seventeen world, Like all that started, minute comes quick, Right as you've seen with your own kids. It's like T's a hobby and it's something you enjoy and you love. And then all of a sudden it just clicks right for me. that ninth grade dear, I mean, I was shooting puck doing stick count routines, Was carrying my sister's bike on my shoulder up hills.
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
I mean, I
Coach Pitlick:
huh,
Eric Westrum:
was just I got just kind of went into crazy mode with Jack. Blatherwick. was a mentor starting in ninth grade, but born at Apple Valley. it was a strength coach and then Larry Hendrix on popped into the picture my softmare year, along with my dad By Brooks, J. P. Paris Darby, Henry, I mean you, you list those names. Um, and then, like I said back in the day, being able to go around, John, Mary will get the ring, So I had those influences, but I didn't. really. To your point, I thought it was normal. It's like my kids going to the wild games. They think it's normal to go downstairs and talk to Austin Matthews and Jonathan Days, and Patrick Kane and Counter Mc. David, And
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
you now at
Coach Pitlick:
wow,
Eric Westrum:
Perizyall. These guys, they think it's normal And so for me, I did the same thing growing up Down in the lock room, seeing bred Hall, and Maria and Wangretski
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
and Mike Madonna, that all of a sudden it was like, became that dream became a potential reality and I started
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to see it. But for me if I didn't put the work in and I know you're a believer and you talk about, you know outliers in. Talk about the ten thousand hours. If I didn't put in ten thousand plus hours, there's no way I would have survived on skill alone. I didn't.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I. Yeah, now right, I have the natural ability. quote and quote. It's be Of the hours I put in. It becomes
Coach Pitlick:
Right.
Eric Westrum:
ingrained in you. So for me that tenth grade year I kind of new. Hey, maybe, but my junior year, I mean it took off right. I went from being potentially on the radar to all of a sudden, You know, a top twenty kid in the whole Us, playing with Scotty, Go man's Brian giant Paul Mara, against Joe Forden and Patrick Marlow, You know, so I was in those same categories playing with a lot of those guys, but I had to work extremely hard off the ice To be able to accomplish what I did on the isode. That's That's kind of where that light bulb went on, and I'm like I can do this. And then it was all my cards in the middle and it was Let's do it.
Coach Pitlick:
Burn the ships. You ever heard that story
Eric Westrum:
The white God.
Coach Pitlick:
Where
Eric Westrum:
You say
Coach Pitlick:
burned the ships Where you? It's some story where this, his captain of the ship was going to war with some place and they got to the destination where they were going to start the fight and the captain burned the ships. He says, We only got one option now if you want to walk out of here alive.
Eric Westrum:
Well
Coach Pitlick:
you know,
Eric Westrum:
and that. To your point, that's exactly what it was. I knew because I think that's the. That's the. I mean, it's good and bad. However you look at, but if you have a back up plan,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
you're always secure right. so to go back to your point, we'll get into a potentially later. but when you ask me the question before we jump on, Hey, what are you doing now? you
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
kind of you infer I kind of burned the ship of like, Hey, I'm done with this, this or this, and now I'm going to go forward in a different direction because it puts. my wife. doesn't always like it right,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
But it puts the pressure on you of like, Hey, what's your purpose and your passion? Because if you follow that purpose and passion and that's what I reflected on know over the summer is like, If I go back to hack, that was my purpose and passion and there is nothing else that I was going to fall back on right.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
So for me to go forward now it's the same thing. What is my purpose and passion? It's to help young athletes to help businesses to help people, and in the end of the day, and we'll talk about this later. you know Charity, I'm starting around mental health, right, it's it's just there's so much there into your point. It's like I like that saying Burning the ships like here's where I'm put my stakes down.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I'm not going backwards. I'm going forward, you know, And who's who's on board right and who wants to do? Who wants to follow their purpose and passion to make a difference?
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah, I mean that you just you made bright lions. They're not blurred. so an they're bright. you know, with the what you got to do every day and you just do it Here's here's something interesting When you were just a couple things, I just had an interview with brethadakain. He didn't get. He didn't hit. He wasn't even playing varsity full time as a junior in high school, Bru, seven inches going into senior year and then all a sudden opportunities happen, but prior to that a lot of work Putting in. you're at the. You know, you're doing all the things and you know he prepared for that opportunity, So that's kind of cool to see that similarities. There You were in high school when I was coming close to finish in my career and I actually was contacted by Larry Hendrixon, asking me if I wanted to coach with him an Apple Valley,
Eric Westrum:
Oh crazy.
Coach Pitlick:
and it was probably around now the time that you were there because he said. I think that we got a real shock to go to the state tournament in the next you know, year two, Ah, and I ended up playing another year and I didn't do it, But it's funny how that connection was made right now,
Eric Westrum:
Oh, for sure, one. I think that's the whole point is to an you just hit in the head with Larry and my dad. You know, being kind of the coaches and the co coaches and roll miles, and that is they had belief in us. right. He's talking to you. It's the same thing when I'm coaching and you believe in a team and the team knows it. I mean, just like you said, Then there's another line drawn in the sand Of Here's what we're trying to accomplish. And and everyone jumps in. And if you don't, I mean that year we had to cut some kids because they weren't by. And whether it was their role or what they had to do, you know to get there.
Coach Pitlick:
So let's talk about that, you. you're You're growing up. You're in a neighborhood that. it's just infectious. If you're not out going around playing sports with everyone, you're an odd ball. You got a lot of reps. in that way, passion for hake. You get to high school and you have this magical season. Talk about what happened there.
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I think it started again. It is so different, right, similar to you growing up. It's like you have these group of kids that you go through all of these up and down. So like for us, I mean, even at squirts, pes banta, we were playing against Bloomington, Jefferson, To luththsddina, Those were the teams that were the power houses right in the early
Coach Pitlick:
Yep,
Eric Westrum:
late nineties. And so you win, you lose and you kind of battle back and forth and a lot of times. Unfortunately, those teams. sometimes you get the better of us Right, so you learn and you take that all in and to your point as you go through and I talk about it all the time. It's the process and the plan that you have to fall in love with. So I fell in love with the working out. I fell in love with shooting pucks, and that, by product of where you got to is just it's the end result. So for us it was in practice being competitive right Like so, Carl Gary, one of all state goals on national championships, played now a little bit in the professionally coaching at North Decota, Now Me, and Like, if he wasn't trying or I wasn't trying, like I was shooting puck at his head. I think I broke broke
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
because broke his nut cover one game or one practice because he wasn't ready a net and it was you pushed each other. Remember even my line mates, Brad. Define on is Headburg at the time Ones, I cross, checked him in the back because he wasn't He wasn't going right. So it was that internal competition that I wanted to get better, And if you didn't want to come along for the ride, get off right and
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I think we had Many guys in that realm that makes you stronger. And that's what I see now is to your point of growing up in all of that kind of game to fruition, And now we're in the trenches, you know, we're playing University Man Soda, the final to go to the state tournament in, over time, you know, we beat Blemington Jefferson, which was the power house at the time, going into the state tournament, playing one of the longest games in history against the Lot East and Dave Speed Hart, who I still talk to, You know, He's had a hat trick in every. In that game I go and get a hat direct. We win in a eight over time historical game. The next
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
night we got to play Dina, which is a way lower version of the Us. a hack Nineteen eighty where people think the Russians is the big game
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
right. So for us, they
Coach Pitlick:
uh,
Eric Westrum:
think the Lutheast is the big game, But we had to dinah. In what happens, our third line, our fifth defensement, They step up because they didn't play the whole third period in all, five, six, seven, eight over times or whatever we played. So You have that team concept and that's where. for me. that's where everything was solidified. What do I have to do to be a leader? What do I have to do to be a top player? What do I have to do to fulfill my role? And what do I have to do to make sure I trust those people around me, my team mates, my coaches, family friends, that aren't going to pull stuff and bring you into a negative world, but bring you up. So that was everything that let up until I was sixteen, seventeen years old, built that foundation and then now Here's the sturdy phonation, And then what am I going to do with it into college, professional and into post take?
Coach Pitlick:
So did you guys win that game?
Eric Westrum:
We did. Of course,
Coach Pitlick:
I remember. I remember watching Watching that not live Because I wasn't around. but man historical, Just talk about that. you know your. your. How many over times did it go Ing to eight?
Eric Westrum:
I don't remember if it was eight over times or eight periods or something, but it was. I mean you. basically so after the second period, our third line had let up a goal right against Ou know spear lock or their top line. So
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Larry's, you know, Larry's flips a switch. He pishe'slike You guys are done. So me and Chris sicked, who's now the appeal high school coach? He, basically me and Chris were alternating. He comes up right and then our wingers would go When we come off on, so basically
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
we're going back and forth shift after shift, third period, all five over times or whatever it is, And it's the mental toughness. I mean, even
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Karl
Coach Pitlick:
that's what
Eric Westrum:
had
Coach Pitlick:
I
Eric Westrum:
a
Coach Pitlick:
want
Eric Westrum:
break.
Coach Pitlick:
to hear.
Eric Westrum:
Yoah, Carl had a breakdown. Um, you know, in the locker and Palotspi, who was our golly coach At the time.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah.
Eric Westrum:
He was in there with Carl, coming him down. We didn't even know about it because as a team you'd be know, Be like. What's going on with our goal? He ends, upsetting the saves record in the whole state tournament. And when we go on to win it and I think that's you know, the mind set piece, people ask me like, what are you thinking? It's the preparation. It like all the pucks I shot in my driveway, right all the stick hailing routines that I did all the work outs that I did, And it's the same thing with our team. I saw our competitive ness and practice and in the weight room after practice, and how we performed consistently that you would go into battle With those guys and you didn't even think right. You just knew that you were going to do the next right thing. And if you didn't your team made a line, Met would be like Hey, don't worry. Let's get them next time right next shift, next shift, next shift and we just go go. go go go. And there wasn't like again. It's burning the shifts. We didn't have an. we didn't have another option right. we didn't have. We knew we weren't coming back to this game or this situation. Because that senior class was graduating. there was a few of us juniors and that was our core group. Right Was Is my first year at squirts or pens or whatever it was. N't that second year So we were. We were together too long to lose. That was our slogan on our motto
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
and it came to fruition. You know, So it was. Ah, It was special and it's one of those things that I mean similar to you. I mean, I've done some pretty awesome things you know with team Us, And you know meeting went rat Kate, Kate with him All the things you think of as a kid. That's one of my top five memories you know, even from you know, the gophers and an An team. S. An. So I'll start all that stuff. You know that that has a huge special special impact.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah, well, you're You're lucky. Be grateful. never had a chance to play in the big dance down in Saint Paul, but definitely dreamt about it. Still dream about it. So all right, how did you get to the University of Minnesota? I know your dad played there. It sounds like you. would. That would be the number one. Were there any other school is interested in your services.
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I think I mean, I went when I went down there as a kid. I mean, that was the place I wanted to be right. So
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I think as I went through, the recruiting process is a lot of different now than it was before you can't contact to teams. I mean, they've switched it a little bit now. Back to, I don't want say normal. See, but for me it was. I had the go for poster on my wall. I had my goals set, and as I went through that process, I was getting phone calls you know from Saint Cloud, North Dakota went out to Harvard. You know, I had luckily had good grades. Notre Dame, all sorts of school, which was very humbly in that. Pretty much every school is interested because we had that summer, Tim Army, who is now with the Iowa Wild, right, O C. Babel, Connor,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
For me, that was our coaching staff right that we had together, and we won. we beat Canada, But then we lost Im in the gold medal game for the seventeen or eighteen year or whatever it was at that time, And so I was playing against Joe Forden and Marl and all those guys, and I was one of the top five scores, one with Scotty Mes and some of those guys, So I was now on the radar. In all of the sudden, the phones blew up right that day. They could call. I literally remember, I sit in my parents bedroom and I'd have phone calls from five, five, thirty, six, thirty seven, ready with these different teams and I remember sitting there just getting ready to go to Notre Dame right spring or fall. Go to the football. And it was more so. I wanted to have Experience
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and I said,
Coach Pitlick:
why not.
Eric Westrum:
parents and I said, I'm like, Why am I even having these conversations? I go. My goal has always been to play for the universe in soda. I have a full ride scholarship for four years. I have good enough grades to go to the Carlton School management past college and want to go into business finance. You know, entropreneurship. I'm like, Why am I even looking, And why? why am I going to waste their time in my time and waste their money To
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
go and have an experience. I've been a lifetime on the sidelines and all of that. So I called all the schools and I just said You know what I go. I'm very humble, very appreciative of this process, but my heart and my calling has always been to go University of Soda, and I have that opportunity and coach booge, Gainst Alan Wardo. You now all came out to my house numerous times and talked them through. Went to the university men, soda, and I'm like, Why am I even having these conversations? So stop All this all these talks and just you know, committed to the University of Minnesota, and my senior year was an opportunity to just kind of perfect my craft. I wasn't worried, necessary about winning or losing or doing different things, Was just trying to see how I could continue to get better and make my teammates better before I was off to the University of Mnesodais eighteen year old, because I turned eighteen like a month or two before my first year my freshman year in college.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah, that's that's kind of change. Now where the true freshman, unless you're you know, first round draft peck, you're going to play juniors a little bit. And that's how it was when I was at the University of Minnesota as well. Everyone was a true freshman. They always came in and I'm looking at your stats here. I mean, you were rocking it. You were you know, last two years thirty nine games, fifty three points last year, forty two games, sixty one points. Uh, what was your Years there? Did you get close to a national champion? She even know? Did you win one?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, we did. I mean, I came in. Kind of. it was kind of the transition two years right. So so Oger was kind of on his way out right, He kind of knew it. He was awesome for me. I mean, rest his soul, he was. He was very inspiration of my development. I actually went to his camp once one summer. I don't
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
know if you were. I just remember Mack was there.
Coach Pitlick:
Up at Quadnippi
Eric Westrum:
Yeah,
Coach Pitlick:
or up in the Ely, or whatever?
Eric Westrum:
yeah, you were probably
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
there. You guys were. yea. we were. whatever it was On. But it was cool to see all you guys and hang out and whatever. So that's where my first dose of oger was got to know against a ward. So as I came in, it was funny. Er, first time I leave the meeting, he thinks I'm a defense man because of my dad, So I get out of there and I go, Dan. I'm like he thinks I'm a. He's like, Yeah, yeah, I don't worry about it. He know against know you're not and more, and now I'm kind of like, Because you don't know. then, like the head coach obviously creates, he's the master mind sort of behind. But those assistant coaches have a way Bigger role than people I think realize right,
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
even today it's like they're recruiting. They know these kids probably better than the coach, even himself. Right Because the coach
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
comes in. The coach is closing right and got a call in the right. Closed
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
the door. We come out to my house to have dinner lest data. you know, So I fast forward to the reason they say that my first two years we had a ton of injuries, Right, our top players were injured out. mean we were. I went from playing like fourth line with four guys on my line The first game at Target Senator against Michigan, who had just either one or was runner up the year before, and I'm like I'm not playing on the fourth line. How then am I going to work my way up? So a mover comes December. I'm now on the third line, playing more minutes a little bit. He's like we got injuries Is like. Why? Steve, like you're a d. Right. I'm like, Yeah, I'm a D.
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
I'm like, let's go.
Coach Pitlick:
uh,
Eric Westrum:
So I end up playing on the first parent of. So I'm like the starting. D. I'm playing on the power play now and I'm getting minutes. So and then second year same thing happens And he's like Why you got to go back to some playing with Billy Cone. Right? So Me and Billy are the top de pairing out there, and all of a sudden after the final W, C, J. final five, we didn't make the final Y. You know, mannings, or wherever somewhere you know, J hits having dinner. T. V's on first team all W, C defense man, and I'm just
Coach Pitlick:
Holy
Eric Westrum:
laughing.
Coach Pitlick:
co.
Eric Westrum:
I'm like, So I always joke that ability to see the ice differently and that opportunity to take it and not say Hey, I'm a center on a goal score right. I went through that process and that's why my first two years like you, look at, I was playing De. So I was he guy. I had to move the puck up right and to hit. You know why T Smith and Reggie Burd and crafty And you know all the guys you played there, You know that were older than me, So the points didn't come as much right, But I learned the ton, and then all of a sudden my junior Our year. It's like West at her. It's your team. Let's go, and that's when I grabbed the reins. Learned a ton from the guys I was there with. Learned learned a lot of good things and a lot of things I wouldn't do and
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah.
Eric Westrum:
then change the culture to what we needed. Um, my junior senior or senior year lost main the year they wanted, and then the next year I was gone. Those guys beat Main in over time, but I felt. I mean it was cool. I felt part of the team just from building it. Talking gains. Yea, all
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
those guys you know, I felt like I was part of the team.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Came back right away. I was playing in Scream as that year, and you know, celebrated with the guys, you know. two days after the national championship, I drove home right away just to just to be a part of it. So it was as you know, in the Univers Soda, It's a special place. I had really great opportunity. Got my degree from the Carleton School Management in business and finance, Later went back and got my ba from there. Of the experience I had in the knowledge and the people you're surrounded with
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah.
Eric Westrum:
it was, it was an amazing experience, so I had a had a ton of fun. Great experience, you know, came a little bit short of the ultimate goal that we tried to accomplish. But again, I feel like I was part of you know, those two that they did win just because of the leadership and the foundation that we tried doing. Still in those guys.
Coach Pitlick:
So your last two years were you put back up to forward them?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I played forward full time for
Coach Pitlick:
Okay
Eric Westrum:
first
Coach Pitlick:
after
Eric Westrum:
line.
Coach Pitlick:
that,
Eric Westrum:
Johnny Pole myself played together for two years, and then we fell in as joke with Grant Atolyandnate, Miller, I want to put in a lugger, A guy who go in the corners,
Coach Pitlick:
Uh, uh,
Eric Westrum:
go in the corner, get us the pocket, then go in front of the net, and I told
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Grant he at his best year, I said you have to just stand in front, and once they come to me or John, I said I'll get you the puck and you just
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
have to tap. Just have to tap it in. You know
Coach Pitlick:
Can't be tappy.
Eric Westrum:
So and we had. I mean, we had Leo and Polly Marton, and I mean, I think Polly or Ballard goes guy someone. we're on like the second powerful unit Because our
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
We your second port. But I think we had like Jeff, Dave and Riddle, and know some of those guys on that
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
It was. We had some good teams.
Coach Pitlick:
So one thing that you said that I tell players I get in front of all the time that there are very few hockey players that are forwards that can go play defense and not be a liability. Any defense can go play forward. But when you have the ability to play, both you become wanted commodity to a smart coach. So that's good messaging. So all you people out that you young kids out there if you can play, d play forward. Play it. You're not. You're not one position. You're a hockey player. right.
Eric Westrum:
Well, I, I talk about. that's like Larson out at Columbus, Right coach ahead, Coach there. He talks about that of being able to get his opportunity where I think it was like Hartley or someone, whether he was in Colorado,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and he's like, Hey, you play centres like, Yeah, he never. He's like he figured out how win. face off. Hey, you got to go fight. So and so he's never fought. He's like. Sure, right you
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
go. you grab on to that role and you learn And that's something you talk about as we get to the The pro journey. I didn't grasp some of that I did when I did. I was successful when I didn't. I wasn't successful right and I think that's to your point, If you have the ability to play in multiple areas, your huge commodity to your team and into your coach. For sure.
Coach Pitlick:
Absolutely all right. Well, let's transition. You had awesome college experience, you know, Gain some confidence as you went through there, and definitely a feather in your cap for all the hard work you put in as a youth player. H. Talk about the transition to pro. When were you drafted And By who and how did that journey start?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, so I got drafted after my fresh manure. Ironically, I dropped down the chart, probably because I was playing De. right. So the stats weren't there. And you know, coming off of that tournament against Team Canada and going into the World junior, you know, pre camp and stuff, I was at a point where again I didn't. I was learning. I didn't want to play in Jeff Jackson's left wing lock, and I made that pretty evident to team us. So I was
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
out in Finland, playing. You know, Want to top two three And then I'm just I'm like I'm not going to sit here and go up and down like a bubble Ackkeguy. Right and
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
when? from here out of the line up denionplay in the world champion ships right in the world
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
Juniors, Because I made the decision that I didn't want to do it right, So stock drops little whatever, End up seventh round to pick by the Phoenix Kaoties. Glen Sonmare was a scout there, Bobby Smith, you know as the So, a lot of Minnesota connections went out there, My sofhmore For rookie camp. Because we were on quarters or semesters or whatever it was, it was different than all the other schools, so we didn't start school at the U, until end of September, and back
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
then, right when you played, even when I started training camp was way earlier,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
so I was able to go to rookie camp. Had a really good rookie camp with Danny Brier, who had an unbelievable career
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and I was at, you know, just playing really well and they're like Hey, go play. you know. College for a couple of years, get your feet wet. You know, let's get you to develop right. You got ton ton of upside. your work ethics, I believe, because I was going to work out with Steve Tanda strength coacher, so everything was trending the right way Fast forward. Like any organization, Bobby Smith's gone, Coach is gone. Everyone's gone. So now it's a clean slate. Who do they like right? So get there end up going into rookie camp. You know, to play a little bit of exhibition, and then I'm in the miners. I'm in Springfield, Asachusetts, playing there. For you know, two years, my third year get an opportunity to maybe play of. Maybe not, And that's when I had to, and I was a goal score. I was a play maker West. You're going to be a third line center and you're going to play. Rick Bonus was a coach. Right, Francis was there before he got fired. Bonuses there, Which bone is still coaching, Which is unbelievable. He tells me. Okay, West, it's you, Danny Cleary and Mike Come right. So these guys are skilled players that are playing a third line role to play against Forsberg, Iserman, You now yager all the top guys and I actually, I enjoyed that it. That third line role was fun. Right to be able to do that and to be in that situation, so coming in drafted right. It doesn't. as you know, unless your first round half time doesn't mean it right. It's different like I wish. Then I mean, my journey would have been totally different, But I didn't sign my senior year so I would be a free agent. Today's world right
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and I could have went anywhere, So I saw some of the guys right played against Jason. Blake, Went on to sign with La, and different opportunities when your draft in your kind of an organization. If you don't fit into that spot right away, you kind of get lost, so I had to re, climb out of the malerroom, or to speak to where I was after my freshman Er with playing, you know on the rookie camp with Danny Beer, And you know Bobby Smith and all those different Different people, So now I'm back to square one at
Coach Pitlick:
Right.
Eric Westrum:
the beginning.
Coach Pitlick:
That's you know. It's interesting because I played with a lot of guys over the years that there used to being on the top line playing on the number one power play as you were coming out of college, and then they can't make that adjustment like you did where you got to transform your game To just get that opportunity to be an everyday player at the professional level, and then Hopefully with you know, maybe injuries happened. That's how I became an every day player in the N. H. L. I was the fifth game in the season we were playing New Jersey. I was a healthy scratch to defense man went down Shan Hill, Minnesota
Eric Westrum:
Yep,
Coach Pitlick:
guy and Stanislav Nets cash. Ne. injuries out for the year, All the seven in seven, one five and I play the rest of the year and I got my opportunity, But was that hard for you to say that Okay, I'm not. I can't be The point guy that I want to be, and I got to be a shutdown guy. Was that a hard adjustment to make?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I think. I mean early. my car. I don't. it was. but it wasn't because I think that the goal of wanting playing the right is what was driving me, so however I could get there,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah?
Eric Westrum:
I think you know so early on it wasn't as much because it was just being part of the team and be in part. It's kind of like when I went in with the go first playing on the fourth line. you're kind of like part of the team. right, You got
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to go to skate stick day and you get your name on your stick and you go. Now you're at the professional level and you got all this awesome stuff and it's pretty cool. Then all of a sudden you play in the N. H. L. You play. You know, for half a year I go to the World championship. score the game winner in the Bronze medal game. Like all this stuff Peter love, lets, and all of this now I'm like it's like anything right now. You're here now You want to be here.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
So I accepted it for a short period of time, but then I was like Okay, I made it to the show whether I played one game or played a thousand games at that point, like I didn't care right, which
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
was not always a good thing. So now I came into. You know, the following year was the lock out here, so that's it right off, and then the next year I go back to training camp and I get traded a Minnesota, and you know they're like, Hey, great opportunity. you know, the unfortunate thing is Phoenix is rebuilding in a certain aspect and they wanted the defense men, so they're like Hey, you can go here. You probably play here. you know third fourth time, but you can go here and maybe play for a second, because that's type of player yard. But then Minnesota had different plans.
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
Sid guys brought some younger guys up that were in the system, so I was like. The timing went to Houston and started playing again that first line role and having a ton of success. leading score. the H. L. Having fun. Just and all of a sudden it just my mind set changed again. I'm like I want to be that guy went up to Minnesota. They put me on with Rolleston and Gabby, or you know, Butch Bouchard or whoever, for like a shift or two, and then I was with bookie bookie man, Rest, do piece, and
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Alex Hendry, and they're like, Just chip it in. Otherwise we're goin to go fight and I'm like Dude, Went talk to the Gmthe, coach like send me the miners. I'm not playing for our third line anymore, right?
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I just I didn't. It was more for me as to enjoy the game. And how did I enjoy the game? The most? I enjoyed the most by scorn by winning. right. so down there, leading score of the H were winning. We're in first place. Um, you know, we had a Believable team down there, you know, Kurbyloppatio, Sellon, Curtis Murphy, Curtis Foster, Josh Harding, I mean, we had. We had the
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
making of a really good team and really good experience. So I was just like he, send me down and I want to go play there. They send me down and then they get grassed from the media because I was leading the score and there like Hey, call Westramopbein from Minnesota, So call me up. Basically, you know, we don't have any other choice and I'm like. Well, I don't even want to play here. You know, Because
Coach Pitlick:
Wow,
Eric Westrum:
I wasn't having fun. We weren't going to make the play off in Minnesota. We edit Ance to run the table in the culture right. So that's when my mind ship shifted Later, go to Toronto on a two year one way contract. Same thing. I'm like the top score in the H. L. and I'm like Okay. Now I want to be the top score in the N. H, or I want to go to a top league somewhere else. Russia,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
looked at, you know, Er, slave, and some of those teams, Saint Petersburg make a lot of money. It's unsafe, you know, in my opinion, my wife's opinion, Time
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
went to Switzerland. and then that's when another mind she changed after leaving Erano, get on my contract playing two games, you know, with the leaves. That's where. So to answer your question full circle, it was like you kind of go through these shifts in these different times in your life where you accept different things to get in the door. Right, you do what you need to do. But then when you we talked about this before, right your purpose and your passion, Right, What is that? And my purpose and my passion was to win hockey games and to play in a role where I felt valued and I felt like I could offer the most value. And if it wasn't in the N. h, M. I think I came to terms with that after my first year in Switzerland, when I had led the league and scoring over there, and
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Bruce Droll with Washington, wanted me to come back and I had a contract ready. Hank, Ben Hankinson was my agent at the time and we had that also Up, and I just reflected on like you know, Bruce told me you're a first second line guy and I looked at the roster oechican backstrum, and I'm like I'm like number seven, eight or nine, just being
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
realistic, So I knew the starkly did that with guys one way, kind of put him in Hershie, to be a mentor, and I told Bruce I'm like, I don't. I have confidence I can play on your team, but I don't think I'm the right guy
Coach Pitlick:
Hm.
Eric Westrum:
and then signed another four years over in Switzerland. So it was It was adjustment To say the least. Hey, it can. I. I don't know, assuming you cut this, but can I grab my charger quick? it's just right next to me.
Coach Pitlick:
Oh yeah, take your time.
Eric Westrum:
Just one second quick.
Coach Pitlick:
Yep.
Eric Westrum:
Thanks sir. About that
Coach Pitlick:
No problem,
Eric Westrum:
sun. it popped up and I'm like I don't want to be. I don't want to get phased out here.
Coach Pitlick:
Awesome. Yeah, this is so good. Love it
Eric Westrum:
Oh,
Coach Pitlick:
all right. So let's let's transition now to going over to Switzerland. I never had the chance to play over in Europe. What was that experience like? Because it's a. It's obviously you had the N. h. l. the h Ll experience. How is it different over there?
Eric Westrum:
When I think you know kind of what I was just talking about to. Is you any of the listeners? Whether your young old parents coaches, you know in different sports wherever they're at it, and you know this is, you set different goals and the hardest thing for someone to do is recalebrate right. So when I talk about that for me, it was like I wanted to play in the I wanted to score. I wanted to meet Winggretski. I want to do all this stuff. I kind of hit every part of my bucket list and I, unfortunately, at that time I like I wasn't able to step back and recaleborate when I say that if I would have, um, not from an arrogant standpoint or egotistical, but grown very humble standpoint, I would have played the N, you know, probably into my late thirties, right, just because I think my the hack Q, and you know my physical fitness and how serious I took that and the lack of injuries I had. I just I left way too early, right? I think I was in that position where I'm like. Why? Why? Why not? me and I totally bypass the process Right and a lot of people get to that point where you're not playing now, but you might not be on the right team or in the right situation, or you might not physically or mentally be ready. So for me when I went to Europe, I had an unbelievable season, and all of a sudden again you get caught up in yourself, right, you go to these ranks and these stadium. It's like watching sacer. If you watch the world, It's the same thing people can, Tin fires and barrels, And there it's
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah?
Eric Westrum:
just it's crazy and it's It's
Coach Pitlick:
yeah,
Eric Westrum:
exciting and it's It's different like the l, unless you're in the Stanley Cup finals. like a lot of his rink. Minnesota, as good a once. but as a player like, it was just energy and it was go and play, go and have fun Score. When in the life style was so different, it was so relaxed. it was. it was enjoyable. We had the opportunity you know to have two of our. Our kids were born here, but we're able to kind of family plan to make and be home right. So there you know. here as you know, you play everyone. I was playing Menesota, Arizona, and whatever you fly in somewhere, Play that night. you might fly out to Kelgary, Playing Kelgary. The next night you fly out to an cover a day off play in Vancouver. Then you're probably going to fly to, and we do kind of West coast swing and then maybe your home. So for us it was it was the life style. Ah, it was you know. playing now less games you know. So on your body, it was the style of game. At that time. You know, they've probably adjusted a little bit where they're bringing more North American coaches and style over there. Unfortunately, but that was. that was kind of my bread and butter. T's kind of like the hell now. I wish I would have played Pla now right, more more more offensive minded, but for me the Swiss Lea, The European thing was really really enjoyable both from a hack standpoint and also just just kind of a quality of life, too.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah, uh, that sounds this magical And then to mean you just have. it's just a different deal. Are there? they televised like the N. H. L is here
Eric Westrum:
Yeah,
Coach Pitlick:
over
Eric Westrum:
it's
Coach Pitlick:
there.
Eric Westrum:
a big deal out there. I mean they have. Yeah, I mean, they have a ton of sponsorship. You know, it's crazy too. So the first year as I started to become the leading score, Like of your own team, you wear like a fire helmet and you a
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
fire things on. So they know who you are. It's it's the weirdest thing. It's like you
Coach Pitlick:
Really.
Eric Westrum:
don't have to. you know, have to figure out if the top score is on the ice right. so all
Coach Pitlick:
Hello,
Eric Westrum:
of a sudden, you know game whatever, like the leading score of our team, and you know, put the lid on and that like this is the weirdest
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
thing ever. Ah,
Coach Pitlick:
uh,
Eric Westrum:
but that and then the T v right. So like Burns Zurich, you know Lugano, All these teams. that's you know, Socker and hockey are probably the biggest two sports in Switzerland, So there's a huge following. you know.
Coach Pitlick:
Awesome.
Eric Westrum:
Die hard fans. I played in Ambrypioto, which was awesome. I mean, is a small village you know up on the mountain that you know. We lived about twenty five minutes south and Montecraso. So you had palm trees And sunshine, you know, and then you go up. So the first time I went up, I don't remember Nat down in the Kelly or Nick name Co,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and all any of those names. So they, they're on my team and we're driving up, And you know they didn't tell me the winter coats in the back because the temperature changes and it wasn't
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
right away, But I'm in shorts and flip flops and
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
we drive up
Coach Pitlick:
uh,
Eric Westrum:
and all a sudden look and it's like you know, kind of like sleet a little. You get up there like put us to. And they're like Last. see where's your coat? Because they all open the trunk. The cot.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
I'm like little, but
Coach Pitlick:
M.
Eric Westrum:
it was that, so it was a cool experience to say the least to be able to have that. And then all the games were tell by, so like when we had no, my youngest. Well at the time our first born, Luke Know, and my wife. We go up to the neighbors. They watched the T. V. They'd watched the game and it was. it was a big deal over there For sure.
Coach Pitlick:
It's kind of like for me, M. I started out and Hershie four years there. Then I went to Prince Edward Island, with Autowa, then Autowa, and then down to Florida, and when you get down to Florida, it's pretty cool down there. You know, a lot easier on the wife with the kids when we're on the road, but I imagine that that's the same thing, but it's like every team over there has a little. It's right. I
Eric Westrum:
Oh
Coach Pitlick:
mean, you just go
Eric Westrum:
yeah.
Coach Pitlick:
in to one little village to another. That'd be
Eric Westrum:
Well,
Coach Pitlick:
awesome.
Eric Westrum:
it's to you. It's to your point. Two people always asked me if like, you know what was your favorite place to play Like Minnesota, Because you're from there and it's it's hard. I mean, I mean you've seen it, you know, with your own boy to it's It's good and it's bad, right, good as it's fun to fulfill that boyhood dream right for me. Like wear number seven, right, Neil, Brad obviously was an idle mind growing up outside of Wang Gretski, You now who is a national or international hero? But I think to your point, even When I played in the Phoenix, right, you have Scottsdale, and you have your little village of your teammates and people that you don't have to, you know. Engage with like everybody who knows you, Right because
Coach Pitlick:
Right.
Eric Westrum:
you're You're in a different part, right and that, like Switzerland. eventually everyone kind of knows you, but they're respectful and they're very nice, but you have to your point, all these different places, you have the ability to go into different locations and and enjoy it. I think that's the coolest thing. like as you know, No matter where you play Right, I play in springy mask people like, Oh, the armpit of the, It's like I had a great experience where I met some of my best friends there
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to you know, parents that that kind of took me in as their own, and the godparents of my son, Ethan, Right, it's it's what
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
you make of that experience in what you make of that process and everything that you do in life that I think That's the thing as you know that you learn through hack, hacks, the conduit too, Everything that we've been given and what we can get back now For sure.
Coach Pitlick:
It's definitely a connector. That's for sure, big time. so congratulations on a great career. I mean, you did it on your terms. Uh, I don't want to keep you too long, and I want to get to the book next, but just congrats on that and I know you had some ups and downs. Um, you have a couple of things I want to talk about. Want to talk about the book? How did that
Eric Westrum:
Yep,
Coach Pitlick:
happen? And then? also, O, You have a foundation and that's happened because of an experience that you had as a hockey player, So we can start either with the book or the mental health stuff. Let's talk about that.
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, I think I mean the book kind of leads into the charity. right. So for me and you were? I was blessed to have you at a couple of the charity events. I used to do stuff around Parkinson, Right because of my grandmother and my uncle and just the close connection there And not that that's left. You know where we are. We still do donations and different things part of their events. But I think, for me, as I was digging into this, the book around becoming elite and I talk about the Four pillars of transformation. So what it is is, I'm talking about the psychological Shift, the physical shift, spiritual shift, and the emotional shift right. So when I go through that it's not, I'm not telling you how your mind she should be, or what you should do physically, or what religion you should believe in or what your emotional capacity should be. It's just guiding you through kind of what I learned right. So focus you now grow, first fixed mind set. talk about physical routine, disciplined routine, healthy life, spirituality, like finding your higher power or your center Right for me, I'm a believer, I'm a Christian through Hickey Ministries and doing different things you know in that aspect, and then emotionally, being able to be pathetic and compassionate and vulnerable, Right, living intentionally
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and not like shutting down like we were taught as athletes, Right, be tough. Don't face that, don't face this. So for me going through it I talk about my journey, talk about the psychological aspect, the physical aspect, the spiritual and the emotional, and then I tie it all together and say Hey, this is the bridge right between yesterday, Which is the past, But you learned. I learned more from my failures. Probably that my success is, and then I talk
Coach Pitlick:
Hm,
Eric Westrum:
about today Like what can you do? So I give three simple tools to talk about a ten minute daily check in. I talk about midday calabration in a five minute night. So basically what it is for me? I'm an early guy. Now I've got to waken up. you know, three, thirty four or thirty five. wherever that is? Check in. What did I do yesterday and all for these pillars? What worked? What didn't work so psychologically? You know, Do my mind set up right today? I'm going to do that. so now, fast forward to the midday recelebration. I'll have those support things. I'll look. Did I do it? Yes, Yes, I can check the box. Was it efficient? Did it help? yes or no? and then the same thing Nd all those other pillars, and then at night I'll reflect, and one thing I phoned for me that is always been hard to do is celebrate the winds right,
Coach Pitlick:
M.
Eric Westrum:
because I've always been taught you watch the Super Bowl. You know, you watch Stanley Cup instantly. How long does it take for the betting crew to say What are the odds for who's going to win it next year? right or they ask the question, Hey Tom Brady, what do hat do you think for next year? It's like
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
you're so programme like not to celebrate those successes, So I try and I'm still not the best of it to celebrate those wins. Even after I finished publishing my book, I'm like Okay, What's next and I looked
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
at it like Eric. What you know? what? Let it sit? That it's an accomplishment and it's okay to celebrate it. So for me that's the whole thing around. My book is to be able to say Hey, here's what's worked for me and now give me the opportunity whether you know it's to speak to a hockey team, right, whether it's to speak to a business, whether it's to speak to an organization, whether it's to speak to a charity, So all these different you know, opportunities for me are starting to come up now Because of the book, Right, it's like Sports is the first conduit to get into. You know, center influence, The next one is you know. publishing a book gets to a whole another center. And then what I'm hoping and praying for that is to get that is going to lead into the charitable portion. So the charities, let's let's make the shift. It hasn't even I just created at last year. Nothing official yet. We're going to kind of start to look at May seventh, so amaze Mental health awareness and the goal there is to create an event around kind of the four pillars, but bring in current or form or professional athletes and talk about it right. So if I'm interviewing someone that's talking about, let's talk about these different aspects. What are things that you learned? What are tools that you can help people with, and we'll have. Probably you know, the goal would be to try to get two thousand people in the venue and just sit and talk about that, You know, with an inter active stage, Uh, to be able to dig into that in the ultimate goal there for me is to have a facility right is to have a sight facility, You know, and some people are like Jes. you're crazy, but I believe in vision so similar to Hack. When I have those Gopher and North Stars and the Olympics all that stuff on my walls, it becomes a reality because I see it every day, so I
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
have a picture now of what it's going to look like with the main area. To have you know the speaking en, You mean thirty six people are going to be able to come in. We're going to have twelve minimalist cabins where three people can stay right. No technology. you're going a have a work out, you know, in a studio area, you're going to have a dining area. You're going to have it on some type of body of water to be able to go through all of those different aspects, but I know for me if I have the ability or if I could bring in a team to be able to do that, or I could bring in a business group to be able to check out for two and a half days, and have you know professionals in different aspects. When Professionals could be a former professional athlete, talking about the physical aspect. it could be a formal professional athlete talkin about the emotional side of like, I could have been this much better if I would have been more vulnerable. I could have been this much better if I was that much more epathetic, right. So I think that's the full scope of bringing the book, The charity and the facility all to fruition. Um, you know for today's today's world and it just gets given back. You know, wherever that takes me, you know. I'm confident that it's going to be pretty amazing to see what happens, because as you know, when you put your time and effort into that, I mean amazing things can happen. It's just it's not going to be. It's not given to you, but I like. I like the challenge. I think around mental health awareness, especially in today's world. I mean it's There's a stigmatism around it
Coach Pitlick:
Hm,
Eric Westrum:
not only in sports but in life, and I think that's the big thing. Just Be able to break through that barrier and help people become better, become elite. right? An elite doesn't mean you have to win a Stanley cup. It doesn't Nd. That's why I actually have the Stanley cup, Because I've never won one And it's okay
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
right so it doesn't matter. I'm still good enough. And that's the thing with what I'm trying to talk about is like, how can you get to your elite? What's your elite Right Average Is that's okay right. But if you can you know, I talk about one percent impact when I do Speaking engagement, One percent of a day is fifteen minutes.
Coach Pitlick:
Yep,
Eric Westrum:
So if I can put fifteen minutes in, or if I can change one, one bad thing, I can take it out of my life. So I go on tick tock fifteen percent, fifteen minutes last year, Instagram, or whatever, and I go for fifteen minutes instead of I write in a journal,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
Right the law, three and sixty five bad things through and sixty five good things. All of a sudden, you've increased incrementally.
Coach Pitlick:
It's interesting. never, uh, ever in the history of the world has it been easier to access information and there are so many people in this world that have got. they became elite by doing the things that you're talking about now and sharing it. then If you're not investigating how to become better, it's you know. I think you're failing. That's that's how you fail. You got to try that. Try to be a little better than that. I ran To that one percent. There's fourteen minutes, twenty four seconds, I think is how many minutes one percent of minutes in a day, and I've implemented that where journaling well, I just started journaling this year for the first time and I set my clock for like you said, fifteen minutes, And I just do it And it's It's so fun to see what happens when that's compounded. You know that's with anything, you know how you, With the physical training and stuff. But the one thing that being an athlete is, you know. That's that's just one thing that we chose to be important to us. But like you said, there's so many other facets to our life that make us complete. And that's what I'm sensing you're trying to bring to everyone is how to complete your circle your day, and to be the happiest version of yourself.
Eric Westrum:
You and I agree it, and I think that's the thing that and I always go back and look at it like. Would you change anything? Yeah, you could go back and change right, some of your behaviors and some of the things you did. But you want me and you and be here talking about this and have similar outlooks and have similar influences on people. Because I always look at it like if I didn't play hockey like, I mean, let's just be honest. you know, price fifty, s. Ive percent of people wouldn't talk to me the way they do or let
Coach Pitlick:
Well,
Eric Westrum:
In a door right. So
Coach Pitlick:
yeah,
Eric Westrum:
that's what I look at it like. Yes, I'm fine because people like Y want to talk about. I used to not want to talk about hokafterand. retired sometimes because I'm like I don't want that to define me, you know, and now I'm comfortable enough to know that doesn't define me, but I'm also comfortable enough to know like people want to talk about that and it's okay and it's good to say. Hey. here's just like we just went through And you know the last hour of the journey in the story right, There's so many ups and downs. There's so many neat things people can attach to, and that's my hope is to be able to talk through the story of becoming a lead, the story of mental health awareness. To say, these are the cool destinations, but through that process it wasn't all rose petals and rainbows. and
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
right, it was ups and downs, and those the downs. I want to talk about it right. I want to talk about when I post concussion stuff, and I was at the male clinic and I'm in a dark room and you know drinking Accessively, and you know all the different stuff that you put yourself through And it's like Why was I there? Now? I can talk to people about it. It's the same thing
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
through the hockey journey when I didn't make the eight team, the end of the world right and the parent, everyone you know. But it's like that's the stuff that brings you up. T's the same thing with the World Junior championship. S. the decisions I made. That's why I didn't play. It wasn't
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
because the coach is what. I'm the reason right,
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and I think that's stuff like you just said You can be Better yourself in fourteen, fifteen minutes a day and acknowledge that you have the power to change and the power to implement in the power to be successful and again, Success looks different. That's why mental health is huge. Because some people right when you go through that you think you have to be this right and I look at it for me or you with our kids. Now Like what are the expectations for them that they put on themselves
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
right? And it's just being aware That, and bringing awareness around this hole, all these concepts and everything that's there And it's a confusing place and you know myself and you and everybody else can offer some clarity and just support to say. hey, right, you're not alone. we all battle with. I mean, I wake up in the morning and I got nine hundred thoughts going on and it's like okay. I got to work out for an hour. listen to my mind set, read my bible like my wife's like. What do you do down there like
Coach Pitlick:
Uh,
Eric Westrum:
I got. I need to, Or otherwise, I can't have energy with you and I can't have energy with my parents and they can't have energy coaching with my family Till that's where you got to learn to respect yourself first and foremost, so you can give to others.
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah. yeah, know it. it is a journey and you know it's It's hard to see the value of obstacles that come your way until the journey is over and then
Eric Westrum:
Oh,
Coach Pitlick:
you
Eric Westrum:
for
Coach Pitlick:
can
Eric Westrum:
sure,
Coach Pitlick:
kind of see that you know when you were down the deepest when you crawled out of that, you are a better person because of it, and it's unfortunate that that's how this world works. But You know if you want something substantial in this this life, this experience, you got to put some work into it and you're going to have you're gonna fall down and skin your knees once in a while.
Eric Westrum:
Well, I think that's too. That's how people can relate to being real, right. I think when I used to, when I was playing or even like you, go and speak at something or you do now. Presentation right? And that's what I've learned now Is you connect with people through story right,
Coach Pitlick:
Yep.
Eric Westrum:
But you have to be real in your story. You can't just talk about playing for your home, ten one team and playing in the H. L. You know people want to Stanley cup or one. you know, a medal you know for your country like that is all great, inform Ation, and content. But it's how did you get from here to here? right? it was these. That's where people can relate. Oh my gosh, he was playing Pro Hack and you know he was, you know, had struggles with like you know, mental health because of this, or he was, you know, doing this and making this much money, and still didn't feel worthy, Or you know went
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
through this obstacle in didn't Oh my God, I can totally relate to that right. It's hard to relate
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to like you said the one for center Right, There's I mean, percentage of people that have played the L One game. It's very, very, very, very very small, right
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
so you can relate an other things, and then you bring in all of the other content and resources
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and tools to help people, Because otherwise you're going to push him away, right, you're
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
You're going to be like. Oh, that guy thinks he's better than me. Whereas
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
really, I mean, I'm less. I'm less than you right.
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
Trust me in the stuff that I kind of through the stuff that most professional This have gone through, And I say that all the time, majority of the stuff you hear right around a lot of it's true. It's
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
true right, whether it's you know, addiction, divorce, bankruptcy, depression, Like those are the four main things people guaranteed. Most professional athletes have probably hit one of those or been close to one of those, right
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
and thankful to my family and my wife, for you know, I mean she's She's the rock you know through the whole thing
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to be able to get through all That stuff to be able to be better and become elite Right, become an elite dad. Right. How do you show up for your family? That's most important. How do you show up as a friend as a coach
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah.
Eric Westrum:
as a mentor? So yeah, I'm excited. See where this all goes?
Coach Pitlick:
Well, vision man, love it. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your story in your journey. Um, just super great messaging for our listeners to hear. Um. Where can people find out more about you and your book?
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, so it's pretty as long as you spell my name right, Right because Eric and my my parents went Scandinavian, So it's with
Coach Pitlick:
Okay,
Eric Westrum:
a k
Coach Pitlick:
okay,
Eric Westrum:
right. So sign language is k, w, w dot e r i, k, Westrom book dot com. So it's w w dot, Eric Westrom book dot com. That's the best because it's going to give resources to my book and then speaking engagements. different things that I'm part of
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
as we continue to build this. So kind of going, You said, Going through kind of a transformation, and I've always done you deliverables and different content and different events, but now putting this together and packaging it, so so ah w w Dot are question book dot com. I have a bunch of free resources that I'm given out so people can use them implementum and then get feed back and ask questions to try to help. like you said, You help one person at a time. It's tremendous, you know. I mean, you look at what you've done through, you know, this, Caneling and shooting and all everything is it to get to the N. o. T. Yeah, that's their goal some of those players have, which is amazing to see. you know. you've trained hundreds and hundreds of professional and call in junior. but some of them who don't make it. What did they get out of it? The discipline to show up the discipline
Coach Pitlick:
Yeah,
Eric Westrum:
to put the resin to go on to your online. You know, stick handling and look at what's the home market. Did they do it? They're the only ones who know
Coach Pitlick:
Right,
Eric Westrum:
right to do it, but it's that Process. When they get into the real world, they go to college or they have a job. They know what the process is. So yeah, so I'm excited. but yeah, again, Ah, Eric Westrum book that Commons where you can kind of find, Find everything else.
Coach Pitlick:
Perfect. I will make sure to include that in the description. Thanks for being like you say at your website, Servant leader, I think that we both go into our days wanting to help others and we're lucky that Hock is our connector to these people in our story. And I agree There's sometimes that you don't want to talk Hake, But that was more earlier. Like Wen, You first retire. Now it's about recognizing that people are just trying to learn and they're trying to minimize their ups and downs on their hack journey. And what I love that you say is that everything that they learned going through this process is totally applicable to every day living. and that's what you're doing. So thank you for being you, my friend, and I just really enjoyed speaking with you. You had an amazing hack life and you're doing great Things. If there's any way that I can help you and what you got, go on on. please don't hesitate to ask Eric. I really appreciate your being here.
Eric Westrum:
Yeah, thanks, pet, appreciate everything all the best to your family as well.
Coach Pitlick:
Okay, I'll hit the end record.
